Ship-fokm



L. A. WELLS.-

SHIP FORM.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.21.191s.

QM 9 11 in. 5 2 4 Wm NH 0% m4 m 2 w 3 D1 Lincoln A. Wells.

L. A. WELLS.

SHIP FORM.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 21. 1918.

1 ,323, 1 35. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. Linea/n A1459]! wwnm MM mm Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. A. WELLS.

SHIP FORM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 21, 191B.

L. A. WELLS.

SHIP FORM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 27. 1918.

1,323, 1 35. Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

4 S,HEETSSHEET 4.

wowtox a Lmmlzz A. WEI/J e nrrn LINCOLN A. WELLS, or HUNTLEY, MONTANA.

SHIP-FORM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 25, 1919.

Application filed September 27, 1918. a Serial No. 255,918.

2 all whom it may camera Be it known that I, LINCOLN A. WELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntley, in the countyof Yellowstone and State ofMontana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ship-Forms, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to ship forms, the object in view being to provide an apparatus for forming the hulls of marine vessels of every description from concrete, at the same time incorporating reinforcing metal in the concrete hull during the formation thereof.

The chief object of the present invention is to produce simple and reliable apparatus for adjusting and collapsing the forms,

molds, or templets, irrespective of the size of the hull to be constructed, the different parts of the apparatus being mounted for easy movement to and from their places thereby greatly expediting the construction of concrete vessels. V

Another object of the invention is to pro vide novel means for supporting the reinforcing material incorporated in the hull.

Another feature of the invention resides in the particular means for supporting and holding theinner and outer sections of the mold or form in fixed relation to-each other during the process of pouring the concrete or other plastic material of which the hull is forme With the above and other objectsin view,

the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated'and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: 1 V

Figure 1 is a plan View of the ship form, showing also the dry dock in which; the molding apparatus is located, the inner form being omitted. v

Fig. 2 is a plan moved. o

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section through the same.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical transverse section showing the connection getween the inside form and the launching ase.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the eyes or cringles.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of the plugs.

view of the inner form re- Fig. 8 is a detail of the clamps. V

. Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the way of mounting and supporting the stages.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation. of the reinforcing structure. V

Fig.11 is a fragmentary section showing the hinged connection between the side walls and bottom section of the mold.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the launching base ofthe ship molding form, said base, in the preferred embodiment thereof, comprising a foundation of concrete as indicated in the drawings,superimposed upon which is a base member 2, preferably of wood, although any suitable material may be used therefor, the upper-portion 2 of the launching base having its upper surface 3 shaped to conform to the bottom ofthe hull of theimproved vessel to be produced, 4 designating the concrete hull of the vessel after completion. The launching base is formed at suitable points with sockets or steps .5, the purpose of which will presently appear. v

Extending around the launching base is a concrete floor 6 and supported thereon are rails 7 which extend parallel to each other and transversely of the longitudinalaxis of the launching base as 7 shown in F ig. '1- Mounted for rolling movement upon the rails 7 at opposite sides ofthe launching base are stages 8 shown as comprising base members 9 having flanged rollers'or wheels 10 on the bottom thereof which rest and roll upon the rails 7 The stages also comprise standards 11 and braces 12 which serve to support an, overhead platform 13 upon which is mounted any necessary number of com crete mixers 14, the spouts 15 of which are perspective view of one V form-or mold as indicated in Fig. 4. Each of the stages carries one of the outside mold boards 16 of the shipform, such outside mold board corresponding in shape with the shape of the outside of the hull of the vessel and having at its lower edge a butt joint relation at 17-with the adjacent edge of the upper portion 2 of the launching base 1. The outside mold board 16 may. be. formed of planks or boards which are shown as running horizontally although they may. run in any direction. In case a'verv large hull is to be formed, theoutside mold boards or sockets 5 above referred to. The inside form also comprises sine wall portions or sections 20 which may be divided into any nunber of sections as'indicated in 2, the side walls 20 embodying bow and stern sections 21 and respectively which are connected by hinges 23 to the bottom section 18, the side sections 20 being also connected to the bottom section 18 by means of hinges 24-. tion 18 conforms to the shape of the upper surface the bottom of the hull and the side yall sections 20 and 21 likewise conform to the interior contour of the hull. In order to collapse the inside form shown in Fig. 2, the several sections of the side walls thereof are connected by cables 25 orthe like to a shaft 26 extending longitudinally of and within the inside torn suitable operating means 27 being provided for rotating'the shaft 26. The bow andstern sections 21' and 22 are first drawn inwardly and thereafter the sections 20 are moved inwardly. Then the entire inside form is raised as indicated in Fig. 8 by means of raising and lowering cables 28 connected to power at 29. The cables 28 pass over overhead sheaves 30 sup'po'rted'by an overhead thrown beam 31, or the equivalentv thereof, said bean-i being in turn supported by a suitable frame work 32, such as posts or standards. i

I prefer to use the apparatus within a dry dock, the walls of which are indicated at 83 and in such case, the supporting frame work orposts 32 may rise from such dry dock walls.

The means for shifting the outside form sections toward and away from each other is illustrated in Figs.'] and 4, wherein it will be seen that I employ a number of rotatable feed screws 3a which have a threaded engagement with the adjacent stage, each feed screw 34 being actuated by worm gearing 35 adjacent to the outer end thereof and a vertical shaft 36 to which 1116- t'i'cn is impartedby a suitable power shaft 37 surmounting the dry dock walls 33, the shafts 36 and 37 being operatively c011 nected together by gears 38. l/Vhen the inside and outs le sections of the form are in their "proper nnal positions, thebottom'portions of t ie o side sections 16 are secured to'the launching base by means of binge The bottom surface of the bottom sec clamping members 39, each embodying a threaded clamping screw 40 as shown in Fig. 8, the clamping members 39 being preferably hinged'to the outside form sections as shown at 41. Similar clamps 4:2 are employed for fastening the bottom edges of the mold board 16 to the corresponding edgesoi the launching base. In this way, the inside and outside forms are held in fixed relation to each other, during the period of time in which the plastic material is discharged from the mixers 14 between the sections of the mold or form. The dry dock is formed with a gate 43 in order that when the vessel is complete, the gate may be opened and water admitted into the dry dock so as to float the vessel from off the launching base.

In order to properly position the inside and outside sections of the mold in relation to each other by means of the supporting studs or pins 19, eyes or cringles 44 are placed around said studs and between the mold boards of the inner and outer forms as shown in Fig. 5. Each of said eyes is formed with a concaved periphery 45 so that itmay beheld by theconcrete when poured between 5 the outer and inner mold boards and each eye 44. is internally threaded as shown to receive athreaded plug 46. I After the concrete has been poured and has sufliciently dried, the inner section 01 the form is elevated by the raising and lowering means above described, and then a plug 46 is inserted in each eye or cringle 4%, making the hull of the vessel water tight.

In the formation of the concrete hull, a reinforcing structure is incorporated therein, such reinforcing structure being illustrated in Fig. 10, and being preferably attached to the inside form while the lat ter is elevated as shown in Fig. 3. The reinforcing structure comprises, in one of the preferred embodiments thereof, horizontal members 47, such as rods, or wires, the up per member e7 being formed with depressed offsets 48 to receive the hooked upper extremities 49 of inclined and crossed reinforcing members-50 also formed of rods or wires, the members 50 are arranged in two parallel series crossing each other, as shown in Fig. 10-, and cross portions thereof are fastened to the lowerhorizontal member or members 1 7 by means oi? tie wires 51 or the equivalent thereof. The horizontal members are supported by means of hangers 52 each having the general shape of the letter W, the central portion thereof being -formed with an inner oil'set"53 to receive the respective horizontal member and also one of the inclined or cross members 50 as shown in Fig. 10. Each of the hangers 52 has terminal base portions 53 and bobs or spurs 5% at the extremities thereof which are driven into the. mold board to which. the

reinforcing structure is attached prepara tory to forming the concrete or other plastic material into the mold. Any desired number of hangers may be employed as may be found necessary-or expedient. The horizontal members 47 are connected tothe hangers by tie wires 55. i

The apparatus hereinabove described may be made of any size according to the size and character of the Vessel hull to be formed. Any and all kinds of marine hulls maybe formed or manufactured by. means of the apparatus herein described andshown. The hulls may be formed with much greater rapidityfthan under the present practice of building a form for each hull and then taking such form to pieces in order to liberate the hull after the concrete is formed and allowed to dry. The inner and=outer forms or moldsmay be made in any desired number of sections which number will, of course. vary in accordance with the-size of the hull. Complete hulls may be turned out with great rapidity thus particularly adapting the apparatus for use in times of war to replace sunken vessels. The decks, propellers and other fittings required may be placed in proper position before the con crete is formed. When the hull is complete, water is permitted to enter the dry dock, whereupon the vessel is floated and launched from the launching base. The water is then forced from the dry dock and the sections of the mold are again placed in position preparatory to the formation of another hull.

I claim 1. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a marine vessels hull and forms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages at opposite sides of said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by said stages. an inside form comprising a bottom section the lower surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, and raising and lowering means for said inside form.

2. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom, of a marine vessels hull and forms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages at opposite sides of said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by said stages, an inside form comprising a bottom section the lower surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hin ed to said bottom section, and raising and lowering means for said inside form.

3. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of .a

marine vessels hull andforms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages at opposite sides of-said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by sald stages, an'inslde form comprising a bottom section the lower surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls-bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, said side walls being composed of a plurality of independently hinged sections, and raising andlowering "means for said inside hinged to said bottom section, means within and carried by said inside form for collapse ing said side wall sections inwardly, and,

raising and lowering means for said inside form. r

5. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a marine vessels hull and forms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages at opposite sides of said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by said stages, an inside form comprising a bottom section the lower surface of which conforms to. the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, raising and lowering means for said inside form, and

clamping means for holding said inside form fixed in relation to the launching base and the outside mold boards.

6. In a ship form, the combination ofa launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a' the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, raising and lowering means for said inside form, and supporting studs projecting from the bottom section of said inside form, the launching base having steps to receive said studs.

7. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, raising and lowering means for said inside form supporting studs projecting from the bottom section of said inside form, the launching base having steps to receive said studs, and stud receiving eyes between the launching base and bottom section of the inner form through whichsaid studs pass.

S. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a marine vessels hull and forms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages at opposite sides of said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by said stages, an inside form comprising a bottom section the lower surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections through which said studs pass, and plugs insertible in said eyes.

9. In a ship form, the combination of a launching base, the upper surface of which conforms to the shape of the bottom of a marine vessels hull and forms a supporting saddle for said hull, stages. at opposite sides of said launching base movable toward and away from the same, outside mold boards carried by said stages, an inside form comprising a bottomsection, the lower surface of which conforms to the inner surface of the hulls bottom, and side wall sections hinged to said bottom section, raising and lowering means for said inside form.

In testimony whereof- I affix my signature.

LINCOLN A. WELLS.- 

